The director of the National Security Agency, Army Gen. Keith Alexander, will step down by March, according to the White House. / Mark Wilson, Getty Images

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON--The director of the National Security Agency will step down early next year, the White House announced on Thursday.

Army Gen. Keith Alexander's departure comes in the aftermath of revelations about the U.S. intelligence community eavesdropping program leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

White House press secretary Jay Carney confirmed that Alexander, who has led the agency for eight years, would depart his post in March.

Alexander informed President Obama about his decision several weeks ago, and had made clear when his tenure was extended for a third time earlier this year, and prior to the Snowden leaks, that he would like to retire in 2014, Carney said.

Alexander was named NSA director in 2005 and later took on a dual-hatted position as chief of U.S. Cyber Command in 2010.

"General Alexander has served an extraordinary tenure and has capably led these agencies through critical periods of growth and transition," Carney said.

One leading candidate to replace Alexander is Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, currently commander of the U.S. Navy's 10th Fleet and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, Reuters reports. But there has been no final decision on selecting Rogers to succeed Alexander, and other candidates may be considered, the news agency says.

Last week, at dinner in New York hosted by Business Executives for National Security, Alexander lamented that the damage from the Snowden leaks is irreversible.

Terrorists "listen, they see what has come out in the press and they adjust," Alexander said."I believe people will die because we won't be able to stop some of those threats."